Zoho’s Growth in Queretaro and Potential Expansion to Monterrey and Guadalajara
Zoho, a technology firm originating from India, has chosen Queretaro for its Mexican offices due to its strategic location within the Bajío region, which serves as a hub for digitalization of businesses of all sizes. The company has created over 150 jobs and is actively involved in AI research and development.
Joel Flores, Director of Corporate Accounts at Zoho Latam, emphasized that this growth strategy is part of a global approach. Although Queretaro has been the primary focus, Zoho is also considering opening offices in Monterrey and Guadalajara, which have shown significant development but require further strengthening.
Zoho’s Focus on AI and Local Development
Flores explained that while the application development is centralized in India, Zoho customizes software for specific regions if necessary. In Mexico, a dedicated team collaborates on AI research and development in India, along with a small group of developers based in Mexico, which they aim to expand gradually.
The importance of adapting AI to regional Spanish dialects is highlighted, with Flores stating, “Having a team focused on AI development in our region is crucial, even though the final integration will be done by India’s development team with regional customization for Latin America.”
Exploring a New Data Center in Latin America
Zoho is currently evaluating the optimal location for a new data center to serve Latin America. Flores mentioned that they have not yet decided on a final location, either within Mexico or elsewhere.
He added that understanding customer needs, including those of governments seeking increased data center presence, is a priority. “We aim to make this decision next year… It’s a significant investment, so we need to take the necessary time, as having data centers in other regions has proven essential, and Latin America is no exception,” Flores explained.
Zoho’s Engagement with Nuevo Leon Businesses
To connect with Monterrey’s business ecosystem, Zoho executives met with World Trade Center officials for training sessions and plan to collaborate with chambers of commerce to explain AI trends, which have at least 55 applications for businesses ranging from small enterprises to large corporations.
Alejandro González Torres, Zoho’s Latin America Communications Manager, noted that Mexico’s growth is primarily driven by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 90% of the country’s companies. This expansion has enabled Zoho to scale its operations, with over 1,000 users and a growing presence among mid-market enterprises.
Zoho’s Global Event Zoholics in Monterrey
Zoho has selected Monterrey as the venue for its Zoholics México event, taking place on December 3-4 at the MS Milenium hotel. The event is expected to host around 400 attendees and feature keynote speeches from Zoho leaders, tailored to beginner, intermediate, and advanced technology levels.
Tamara Arruñada, Zoho’s Events Director, explained that the event will be divided into seven sessions covering various topics such as technology trends, product launches, and best practices for using over 50 AI applications.
Event Structure
- ManageEngine (Zoho’s IT division) session
- Business growth session
- Technical support session
- Marketing session
- Sales session
- Finance session
Previous Zoholics events have been held in Mexico City and Guadalajara, as well as in other cities where Zoho experiences significant growth, such as Houston, Texas; London; and the upcoming event in New Delhi.
